Paper strip processing equipment

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a paper strip processing equipment which comprises a supporting frame having a paper roll lifting mechanism at one end for automatically lifting a heavy roll of paper from the ground and a rewinding mechanism at its other end for rewinding the paper strip as it unrolls from the roll and passes through a number of processing stations mounted on the frame between the lifting mechanism and the rewinding mechanism.

United States Patent Lucas 51 Feb. 27, 1973 PAPER STRIP PROCESSING EQUIPMENT [76] Inventor: Raymond Louis Roger Lucas, c/o

Off. Tech., 133 bis rue Mouneyra, Prechac, France 22 Filed: Jan. 13,1971

21 Appl.No.: 106,052

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Jan. 23, 1970 France ..7002363 [52] US. Cl. ..242/58.6, 242/673, 242/754, 242/7543 [51] Int. Cl ..B65h 19/30, B65h 25/22 [58] Field of Search ..242/58.6, 75.4, 75.43, 75.5, 242/7545, 67.3, 67.1

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Dowler ..242/75.45

2,499,562 3/1950 Behrens.... ..242/58.6 3,250,488 5/1966 Prager ....242/75.4 2,252,419 8/1941 Slaughter ....242/75.5

221,462 11/1879 Hoe ..242/75.4

Primary ExaminerGeorge F. Mautz Assistant ExaminerEdward J. McCarthy Attorney-Arthur B. Colin [57] ABSTRACT The invention relates to a paper strip processing equipment which comprises a supporting frame having a paper roll lifting mechanism at one end for automatically lifting a heavy roll of paper from the ground and a rewinding mechanism at its other end for rewinding the paper strip as it unrolls from the roll and passes through a number of processing stations mounted on the frame between the lifting mechanism and the rewinding mechanism.

6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PAPER STRIP PROCESSING EQUIPMENT As conducive to an understanding of the invention, it is noted that paper strip used for industrial purposes such as in the manufacture of bags, sacks, corrugated board and the like generally is delivered in large heavy rolls which may weigh many hundreds of pounds and often several thousand pounds.

In many cases, the paper strip before being finally processed into an end product such as a bag, sack or corrugated board must have a preliminary treatment which may involve corrugating the strip, printing the same or applying a wax coating or the like.

Where the relatively heavy roll must be manually lifted to be placed into position for ready unrolling as the paper strip thereon is fed through a treatment station and after being treated and wound in a roll, the treated roll must be manually removed, the operation is extremely difficult and timeconsuming.

Furthermore, where different treatment processes are to be applied to the paper strip and a number of separate and distinct machines are required for this purpose, the cost of the equipment with the many duplication of parts is very high and considerable factory space is required.

Where the paper strip which must be pre-processed is thereafter fed to a corrugator which is preferably aligned with the pre-processing stations, if one of various pretreatment equipments is to be used for one roll and another for another roll, it would be impossible to have a number of treatment machines in a line when only one is to be used.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide a paper strip processing equipment which is relatively simple in construction and which may automatically lift a heavy roll of paper strip and position the roll for unwinding and which will automatically rewind the paper strip and discharge the rewound roll with a minimum of effort, which equipment permits various types of processing treatments to be applied to the paper strip as it is being unwound by ready interchangeability of a corresponding number of treatment equipments which may readily be mounted on the frame of the processing equipment.

According to one aspect of the invention, a single support frame is provided which is equipped with automatically operable lifting arms at one end to raise the heavy roll of paper so that it is in position for unwinding and a second pair of automatically operable rewinding arms is provided at the other end of the frame to rewind the paper strip and automatically to lower the rewound roll and discharge the same.

The lifting arms have an associated brake mechanism to maintain constant tension on the paper strip as it unwinds and the rewinding arms have an integral drive device associated therewith.

A plurality of interchangeable treatment equipments are provided which are adapted to be removably mounted on the frame so that one or more selected treatment equipments may be mounted on the same frame between the lifting arms and the rewinding arms for processing of the paper strip.

In the accompanying drawings in which is shown one of various embodiments of the several features of the invention;

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the processing equipment;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of half of the machine;

F IG. 3 is a detailed front elevational view of a treatment station for applying wax, and

FIG. 4 is an end view of the station shown in FIG. 3.

Referring now to the drawings, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a rigid frame is provided comprising a pair of spaced parallel side walls 1 reinforced by cross bars 2.

A lifting mechanism comprising a pair of arms 3 is provided at one end of the frame. The function of the lifting mechanism 3' is to pick up a roll 4 of paper strip which is resting on the ground restrained from rolling by a chock or shoe 5.

More particularly the lifting mechanism includes a control system comprising a pneumatic brake 6 which maintains a constant tension on the paper strip 8 as it unrolls. The brake 6 is controlled by a feeler arm 7 which rides on the periphery of the roll 4 and adjusts the brake tension as the diameter of the roll changes as strip is fed therefrom.

The arms 3 are provided at their outer ends with nose cones 9 that extend laterally inward from each of the arms 3. The nose cones 9 are rotatably mounted on associated stud shafts and at least one of said shafts mounts a hub 9 against which the brake 6 reacts.

The nose cones are adapted to be moved inwardly into the axial bore of the roll 4 to grip the latter.

The inner end of each of the arms 3 is movably mounted on a hollow beam or track 10 by means of suitable rollers R which ride on guides positioned within the beam 10. The arms are moved toward and away from each other by means of a screw and nut N system. Thus, a nut is secured to the inner end of each of the arms 3 and a screw S having oppositely directed threads extends through the nuts N. The screw S is driven by a motor driven speed reducer 11 which, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, is secured to the outside surface of one of the upstanding walls 1 of the frame.

Thus, when the arms are straddling the roll 4 positioned on the ground, and are moved toward each other, the nose cones 9 will enter opposed ends of the bore of the roll to grip the latter.

In order to pivot the arms 3 upwardly to lift the roll 4, a hydraulic jack 12 is provided, supplied by the central high pressure pump 13.

A rewinding mechanism 14' is provided at the end of the frame opposed to the lifting mechanism 3'.

The rewinding mechanism is similar to the lifting mechanism in that it comprises a pair of arms 14 each having an associated nose cone at least one of which is driven by a motor 18 controlled by a feeler arm 19 which adjusts the speed of the motor. The arms 14 are movably mounted on a hollow beam 15 and have an associated screw and nut system driven by a motor driven speed reducer 16. The arms 14 are pivotally movable by hydraulic jacks 17 also supplied from pump 13.

Mounted on the upper edge of the side walls 1 of the frame and extending transversely thereacross is a number of interchangeable stations, illustratively three, designated 20, 21, 22 for treatment of the paper strip.

The treatment station 20 includes a preheating cylinder 28 having associated tension rollers 29, 30 around which the paper strip 8 passes, so that the portion of the strip riding around the cylinder 28 will be retained thereagainst under tension.

The station 20 has a flat base 31 which rests on the upper edge of side walls 1 of the frame.

The station 22 includes a cooling cylinder 32 having associated tension rollers 33 and 34, which react against the paper strip, the station 22 also having a flat base 35 mounted on the upper edges of side walls 1.

The station 21 positioned between station and 22 is provided with a pair of vertically aligned rollers R between which the strip 8 passes, tension on the rollers being controlled by an adjusting screw S.

The station 21 is illustratively designed to print the surfaces of the paper strip, or for example, to apply a coating thereto. In either event a supply tank 23 is provided mounted on the frame 1 having an associated pump 24 to feed a reservoir 25 from which liquid is conveyed by suitable rollers to the lowermost roller R.

The frames of the station 20, 21, 22 are designed so that their bases fit exactly on seating areas 36, and such seating areas are of similar dimensions in order that they can accommodate other interchangeable stations.

The bases may rest by their own weight on the seat ing areas or may be secured thereto by means of pins 37.

In FIGS. 3 and 4 is shown an interchangeable station 26 which can be substituted for one of the stations, illustratively station 21.

The station 26 has upstanding end supports 26' between which extend rollers R. The base of station 26 can also be positioned on the upper edges of the side walls of the frame.

The station 26 has an associated reservoir 27 from which liquid may be conveyed by suitable rollers to the lowermost roller R.

In the operation of the equipment the strip 8 of blank paper is kept under constant tension by means of the brake 6 associated with the nose cone 9. After treatment the strip 8 reaches the point 9", being pulled by the nose cones of the rewinding mechanism driven by motor 18. To assist in the drive of the strip, motor driven speed reducers 38, 39 and 40 are associated with the treatment stations 20, 21 and 22 to drive the cylinder 28, the rollers R and the cylinder 32. A motor driven speed reducer 41 is provided to drive the rollers R shownin FIG. 3.

in order to facilitate the interchangeability of the stations, each is provided with a lifting ring 43 at its upper edge.

All of the controls for the various components of the equipment are preferably electrically connected to control panel 42 to facilitate operation of the equipment.

With the equipment above described, a compact and integrated device is provided which permits unrolling of a paper strip under constant tension, movement of the strip rapidly through various treatment stations and rewinding of the strip. In addition, the equipment is designed to faciliate the loading and unloading of the heavy paper rollers by reason of the pivoted arm assemblies previously described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A paper strip processing equipment comprising a frame, means at one end of the frame to lift a roll of paper strip, means at the other end of the frame to rewind the paper strip into a roll as it is fed from the first roll, means to lower said rewound roll and to discharge the latter, said frame having a plurality of support means thereon between said lifting means and said lowering means, and a plurality of treatment equipments releasably mounted on said support means to process said paper strip as it is unwound from said first roll.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 in which said lifting means and said lowering means each comprises a pair of spaced parallel arms pivotally mounted at their inner ends to the frame, each of said arms having a roll gripping means extending laterally inward from the outer ends of the arms, means to effect movement of the arms toward each other to bring the gripping means into gripping engagement with said roll, and means to pivot said arms upwardly to raise said roll and to lower said arms to lower said roll.

3. The combination set forth in claim 2 in which a track is associated with each of said pairs of arms, roller guide means for the inner ends of said arms to facilitate the movement of said arms along said tracks, a nut secured to the inner end of each of said arms, a screw shaft extending through each of the pairs of transversely aligned nuts, each of said shafts have a pair of oppositely directed thread conformations, and means to rotate said shafts to effect movement of said arms toward and away from each other.

4. The combination set forth in claim 2 in which hydraulic actuator means are associated with each of said pairs of arms to raise and lower the latter.

5. The combination set forth in claim 2 in which each of said roll gripping means comprises a rotatably mounted nose cone, a shaft mounting each of said nose cones, one of the nose cones of said pair of lifting arms being rigidly secured to the associated shaft, said shaft being rotatably mounted and having a hub thereon, a brake mechanism adapted to react against said hub and feeler means reacting against the roll of paper as it unwinds to control said brake mechanism.

6. The combination set forth in claim 2 in which each of said roll gripping means comprises a rotatably mounted nose cone, a shaft mounting each of said nose cones, one of the nose cones of said pair of lowering arms being rigidly secured to the associated shaft, said shaft being rotatably mounted, drive means to rotate said shaft, and feeler means reacting against the roll of paper as it is unwound to control the speed of said drive means. 

1. A paper strip processing equipment comprising a frame, means at one end of the frame to lift a roll of paper strip, means at the other end of the frame to rewind the paper strip into a roll as it is fed from the first roll, means to lower said rewound roll and to discharge the latter, said frame having a plurality of support means thereon between said lifting means and said lowering means, and a plurality of treatment equipments releasably mounted on said support means to process said paper strip as it is unwound from said first roll.
 2. The combination set forth in claim 1 in which said lifting means and said lowering means each comprises a pair of spaced parallel arms pivotally mounted at their inner ends to the frame, each of said arms having a roll gripping means extending laterally inward from the outer ends of the arms, means to effect movement of the arms toward each other to bring the gripping means into gripping engagement with said roll, and means to pivot said arms upwardly to raise said roll and to lower said arms to lower said roll.
 3. The combination set forth in claim 2 in which a track is associated with each of said pairs of arms, roller guide means for the inner ends of said arms to facilitate the movement of said arms along said tracks, a nut secured to the inner end of each of said arms, a sCrew shaft extending through each of the pairs of transversely aligned nuts, each of said shafts have a pair of oppositely directed thread conformations, and means to rotate said shafts to effect movement of said arms toward and away from each other.
 4. The combination set forth in claim 2 in which hydraulic actuator means are associated with each of said pairs of arms to raise and lower the latter.
 5. The combination set forth in claim 2 in which each of said roll gripping means comprises a rotatably mounted nose cone, a shaft mounting each of said nose cones, one of the nose cones of said pair of lifting arms being rigidly secured to the associated shaft, said shaft being rotatably mounted and having a hub thereon, a brake mechanism adapted to react against said hub and feeler means reacting against the roll of paper as it unwinds to control said brake mechanism.
 6. The combination set forth in claim 2 in which each of said roll gripping means comprises a rotatably mounted nose cone, a shaft mounting each of said nose cones, one of the nose cones of said pair of lowering arms being rigidly secured to the associated shaft, said shaft being rotatably mounted, drive means to rotate said shaft, and feeler means reacting against the roll of paper as it is unwound to control the speed of said drive means. 